FAREWELL MORNING TEA

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 149, 21 December 1936, Page 18

FAREWELL MORNING TEA

Miss Drayton was again a guest of honour at a party this morning when the Pioneer Club entertained her very pleasantly. The reception-room was beautifully decorated with large bowls of gladioli in all tones, with delicate native greenery, and there were as well flat bowls of lovely pansies, and vases of pink-toned godetias. Delicious tea was served and enjoyed.

Miss Kane, president of the club, spoke of the pleasure it was to welcome Miss Drayton, who was so well and delightfully known to all travellers to the Old Country, and gave her the good wishes of all on her return journey. Home.

'Miss Drayton, in reply, spoke o£ her .Xegvek.:, Jhafei.tais. jrisit-■• to - this. .-oountrxjl

bad only extended to five weeks, but said that owing to the kindness of many friends, she had seen and enjoyed a great deal o£ beautiful sceneryShe had had great pleasure in meeting many old friends and making a number of new ones. Asked to say something about the Victoria League, she stated that it was one of the three largest Empire societies there were. The Royal Empire was the largest and oldest, and the V.L. came next, with the Overseas League the third. She urged again that the Victoria League was for both men and women, and in England there were many men members who took part in the work, which embraced such a large number of services of all kinds to young and old, men and women. The hospitality and sight-seeing were only parts of the work, and the outstanding effort was to make personal friendly contacts, and this was done largely and with great success among people from all parts of the Empire.

Miss Drayton asked specially that the problems of the country should be presented to the Home league, by word of mouth from visitors', or by letters which could be reproduced in the Monthly Notes.

She spoke of a former wave of internationalism which had largely influenced the younger people, who, however, had come to the opinion of the older ones that the best way to serve all countries was to understand their own Empire, and help it to maintain friendships and close contacts with people of other lands.

Students and teachers—not necessarily from the universities, but all visiting the Old Country, were of special interest to the league and all possible help and facilities were given to them. Miss Drayton mentioned also a special way in which women visitors could give assistance to the league at Home. The women in the country districts .were always so eager to hear something about New Zealand from

the domestic point of view, and those who would go to speak to institutes or other., women's meetings were most welcome. Photographs and slides were also greatly appreciated.

Mrs. Doctor cordially thanked Miss Drayton for her interesting talk, and wished her godspeed, in the name of the Wellington branch of the league.

Miss Drayton will luhc^i with some of the junior members of the league, and- will leave on the -first stage of her homeward journey by the Awatea this afternoon.